The Law of Sowing and Reaping - November 22

Read Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Reflect

Based on how you’ve sown in the past year, what kind of a harvest are you expecting? How can you sow more seeds to the Spirit?

I live in the Cornhusker State. Here in Nebraska, we understand that if you sow seed corn every May, you will reap a harvest of corn every fall. If you sow corn, you won’t get wheat or soybeans or alfalfa. You’ll get corn. You always reap what you sow. But the law of reaping and sowing doesn’t just pertain to agriculture, it pertains to pretty much every area of our lives, including our spiritual lives.

In an earlier study, we thought about sowing and reaping from a material possessions standpoint. In verse 6, Paul had urged the Galatians to be willing to share every good thing with those who taught them the Word. The Gospel truth is more valuable than anything else in the world! It is more than worth it to sow our material resources to support those who preach the Gospel because it is an investment with eternal returns!

But financial giving isn’t the only way to sow to the Spirit. In reality, everything we do, every decision that we make, is either sowing to the flesh or sowing to the Spirit and the return is in proportion to what we give. In 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul explained that whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

How do we sow to our flesh? Well, we sow to our flesh every time we indulge our sinful desires and foster an environment that allows our sin to grow. If we cultivate and nurture our sinful desires then our desire for sinful things will thrive. Then we’ll practice the corrupt deeds of the flesh that Paul listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

On the other hand, we sow to the Spirit when we foster an environment that allows the fruits of the Spirit to flourish in our lives. Practically, this may look like reading the Bible, listening to biblical preaching, investing time in prayer and worship, singing hymns and praise music, taking in media that glorifies Him, enjoying fellowship with other believers, and serving His body, the church. These activities focus our hearts and minds on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) God’s Word renews our minds and changes our desires (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23). The more our thoughts are centered on Him, the more spiritual fruit will grow, and the more bountiful our spiritual harvest.

Which field are you sowing in most often? Are you investing in your flesh or are you sowing to the Spirit? I urge you to invest in the Spirit because we always reap what we sow.

Respond

Lord, I want to sow to Your Spirit and reap a harvest of the fruit of Your Spirit. I want to invest in Your Kingdom and in eternity. Please help me when I am tempted to sow to my flesh. Lead me to make wise decisions that have an eternal impact. Amen.

Reveal

Think of someone in your life who seems to be sowing in a hard season—maybe they’re weary, discouraged, or struggling to stay faithful. Reach out this week to encourage them. Send a message, drop by with coffee, or simply remind them that the small seeds they’re planting now—acts of kindness, perseverance, quiet faith—will one day bear fruit. And as you do, take time to reflect on your own “fields.” Is there an area where you’ve been neglecting to sow to the Spirit? Invite this person to pray with you about it. When we share both our growth and our struggle, we water one another’s faith and strengthen the harvest God is growing in both our lives.